Hand-held medical evacuator and irrigation device

Abstract

A pistol-shaped frame (26) houses a fluid distribution assembly (58), including a plunger (46) operated by a trigger (30) for discharging fluid from a reservoir (60) through an outlet check valve (68). On return of the spring-loaded trigger (30), an inlet check valve (80) allows fluid to be drawn into the reservoir (60). A thumb-operated valve assembly (96) provides a fluid passage between an output (12) of the device and the outlet check valve (68) in one position, and in another position provides a vacuum passage between a vacuum inlet port (104) and the output (12). Trigger graduations (136 ) provide a visual indication of measured amounts of fluid dispensed by the device (10).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand-held medical device for selectively supplying a liquid or a vacuum to a patient, comprising: a pistol-shaped frame having a body and a handle, and a moveable trigger, and including an outlet and a fluid inlet port and a vacuum inlet port;   a plunger-reservoir assembly housed by said body, said plunger being responsive to trigger movements in one direction for drawing fluid through said inlet fluid port for storage within said reservoir, and responsive to trigger movements in another direction for forcing stored fluid from said reservoir through said outlet to the patient; and   a valve assembly having a thumb-push means protruding from the rear of said body, said valve assembly providing a normally opened fluid passage between said reservoir and said outlet, and responsive to movement of said thumb-push means for closing said fluid passage and for coupling said vacuum inlet port to said outlet to the patient, whereby said medical device can be easily actuated with one hand.   
     
     
       2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said frame is constructed in halves, and said plunger-reservoir assembly and said valve assembly are assembled integral with one said frame half. 
     
     
       3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein said plunger-reservoir assembly and said valve assembly are constructed integral with each other. 
     
     
       4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein said plunger-reservoir includes at one end thereof a trigger operated plunger operable with a reservoir for changing the volume thereof, and includes at an opposing end thereof an inlet check valve for drawing fluid into said reservoir, and an outlet check valve comprising a part of said valve assembly for discharging fluid from said reservoir. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly includes means for metering a vacuum from said vacuum inlet port to said outlet. 
     
     
       6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said metering means includes a tapered shaft moveable with said thumb-push means for constricting the flow of said vacuum through an opening. 
     
     
       7. The medical device of claim 1, further including means for routing a supply of vacuum from said vacuum inlet port to an output of said medical device to provide a constant supply of vacuum to the patient. 
     
     
       8. Medical apparatus for use in selectively supplying a vacuum or a liquid to a patient, comprising: a pistol-shaped frame having a handle, a body section and a moveable trigger;   a fluid distribution assembly housed by said body section, said valve assembly including a fluid reservoir and a plunger moveable with said trigger for applying a pressure to fluid within said reservoir, a first and second check valve for providing one-way passage of fluid respectively in and out of said reservoir, one said check valve being connected to a source of fluid, and the other said check valve being connected to a switching valve assembly; and   said switching valve assembly including an inlet vacuum port normally disconnected from an outlet fluid port, said outlet fluid port being normally connected to said second check valve of said fluid reservoir, a push valve extending out of the rear of said body section and responsive to a manual pressure for disconnecting said second check valve from said outlet fluid port and for connecting said inlet vacuum port to said outlet fluid port.   
     
     
       9. The medical apparatus of claim 8, further including inlet connector means in said handle for connection thereto of a vacuum line and a fluid line for communicating vacuum and fluids respectively to said inlet vacuum port and said first check valve. 
     
     
       10. The medical apparatus of claim 8, further including a pair of outlet connectors fixed to the front end of said body section, one said outlet connection being connected to said outlet fluid port and the other said outlet connection being connected to a constant source of vacuum. 
     
     
       11. The medical apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reservoir comprises a barrel section and a plunger moveable with respect to said barrel section so as to change the valve within said barrel section. 
     
     
       12. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plunger is spring-biased so as to move in a direction for increasing the volume of said reservoir. 
     
     
       13. The medical apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second check valve protrudes inside said barrel at an end thereof which is opposite said plunger, and further including a coil spring positioned around said second check valve and engageable with said plunger. 
     
     
       14. The medical apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plunger is cup-shaped for receiving therein said coil spring. 
     
     
       15. The medical apparatus of claim 11, further including means for sealing said plunger to said barrel section. 
     
     
       16. The medical apparatus of claim 14, wherein said plunger is adapted for inward movement in contact with a backside of said reservoir, and said second check valve is disposed on said reservoir backside so that said check valve is disposed within said cup-shaped plunger when said plunger is fully moved within said barrel section. 
     
     
       17. The medical apparatus of claim 8, wherein said body section includes a track for slideable engagement with said trigger so that said trigger is longitudinally slideable for moving said plunger in a longitudinal path. 
     
     
       18. The medical apparatus of claim 17, wherein said trigger includes an arm extending into said body section for engaging said plunger, said arm being offset with respect to said trigger. 
     
     
       19. The medical apparatus of claim 17, wherein said trigger travel is limited by end stops which function to provide travel end points to said plunger. 
     
     
       20. The medical apparatus of claim 8, further including means for moving said trigger to predefined locations so as to dispense predefined volumes of liquids from said reservoir. 
     
     
       21. A hand-held medical irrigation/evacuation device, comprising: a frame having a body section integral with a handle;   a trigger moveably fixed to said body section;   a plunger-reservoir assembly fixed to said body section, said plunger being spring-biased in one direction, and responsive to movement of said trigger in the other direction for reducing the volume of said reservoir, said plunger being sealed to said reservoir to provide a fluid sealed chamber of varying volume;   an inlet check valve for allowing fluid flow into said reservoir in response to movements of said plunger by said spring;   an outlet check valve for allowing discharge of fluid from said reservoir in response to movement of said plunger by said trigger;   a piston-operated valve assembly comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, said valve assembly having means for connecting said reservoir to said outlet port via said outlet check valve when in a first position, and for connecting said inlet port to said outlet port when in a second position;   tube means for connecting said inlet port to a source of vacuum;   tube means for connecting said outlet port to a tube directed to said patient; and   tube means for connecting said inlet check valve to a fluid source.